waveringn.
/ˈweɪvərɪŋ/ The action of waver v., in various senses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [noun] > fluttering or flickering
fluttering1382
wavering?a1400
flackeringc1440
playing1601
playa1628
flickering1875
upflutter1929
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [noun]
yea-and-nayc1384
vacillationc1400
titteringa1413
stackeringc1440
wondingc1440
fluctuationc1450
waver1519
mammering1532
uncertainty1548
wavering1548
to and fro1553
suspense1560
staggering1565
suspension1568
mammery1578
demur1581
branle1591
dilly-dally1592
hesitance1601
irresolution1601
uncertainness1601
undecision1611
waveringness1614
hesitancy1617
unsettledness1619
hesitation1622
unresolvednessa1626
doubleness of minda1628
wavinga1628
swagging1636
poise1637
mambling1640
stickagea1647
vacillancy1668
whifflinga1677
hovering1679
unresolve1679
irresoluteness1686
shilly-shally1755
indecisiona1763
undecisiveness1779
indecisiveness1793
oscillation1798
flexility1815
shilly-shallying1842
swaying1850
Hamletism1852
teeter1855
havering1866
off and on1875
dilly-dallying1879
double-mindedness1881
hesitatingness1890
dither1958
?a1400 Morte Arth. 2224 I watte be thi wauerynge, thow willnez aftyre sorowe.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vi. 584 The hund alwais followit the kyng, And changit nocht for na parting, Bot ay followit the kyngis tras, But vaueryng [1489 Adv. waweryng], as he passit was.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke vi. f. 12–16 Whan the people wer in a waueryng and mammeryng what he was.
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares E 3 b Had you rested them on the true Rocke, they had beene ruine-proofe; but now the raine wil rough-enter through the crannies of theyr wauering.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Dd1 Massiue bodies..haue certaine trepidations and wauerings before they fixe and settle. View more context for this quotation
a1768 T. Secker Serm. Several Subj. (1770) IV. 2 Why this perpetual Wavering and Fluctuation, about the first thing, that you ought to fix.
1816 J. Austen Emma II. iv. 69 Had there been no pain to her friend, or reproach to herself, in the waverings of Harriet's mind, Emma would have been amused by its variations. View more context for this quotation
1828 P. F. Tytler Hist. Scotl. I. iii. 312 The wavering of the English lines was now discernible by the Scottish soldiers.
1831 H. Alford Jrnl. 7 Jan. in Life, Jrnls. & Lett. (1873) 68 Quick waverings about of bands of light such as take place in the Polar Auroras.
1868 E. Edwards Life Sir W. Ralegh I. xx. 443 The King's wavering between a course of clemency and one of rigour.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
waveringadj.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [adjective] > with no fixed aim or wandering
wanderingc1000
erringa1340
waggeringa1382
vagant1382
vagabond1426
erroneousa1464
fugitive1481
wavering1487
vagrantc1522
gadding1545
roaming1566
roving1576
straggling1589
rambling?1609
wagand1614
wheelinga1616
gadling1616
vagring1619
erratical1620
vaguing1627
erratic1656
planetical1656
waif1724
vagrarious1795
stravaiging1825
vagarious1882
pirooting1958
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vii. 112 Thai saw on syde thre men cumand, Lik to licht men and vauerand [1489 Adv. wauerand].
1607 in Quarter Sessions Rec. (N. Riding Rec. Soc.) (1884) I. 91 Tho. Best of Wath, a wavering person, [presented] for three assaults on the Constable of Melmerby.
2. Tottering, shaking, faltering, reeling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > [adjective]
waveringc1540
tilting1606
titubating1653
volatile1654
tittering1661
drunken1786
wavery1820
vacillating1822
joggly1828
yawing1835
teetering1845
wambly1857
pecky1864
drunk1881
teetery1900
wambling1908
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13546 And wayuerand, weike, [I] wan to the lond.
1569 T. Roest tr. J. van der Noot Theatre Worldlings 76 Theyr proude titles haue no sure foundation, but are buylded only vppon the waueryng sandes of doubtefulnesse and falshode.
1816 Ld. Byron Siege of Corinth xxix. 48 The portal wavering grows, and weak!
1839 J. Kinnear Cairo, Petra & Damascus (1841) iii. 95 A dim shadowy figure on a dromedary appeared, moving at a wavering and uncertain pace through the sand drift.
1845–7 H. W. Longfellow Evangeline i. v. 127 And like the day of doom it seemed to her wavering senses.
1896 H. G. Wells Wheels of Chance i The nervous clutch of the wavering rider.
3. Fluttering, floating, waving, surging.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > movement of waves > [adjective] > running high, surging, or rolling
wallingOE
waveringc1425
surging1566
trilling1567
wambling1581
grown1600
surgeful1612
sourcinga1660
washing1697
flashing1744
under-rolling1745
jawing1802
rolly1885
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. v. 845 Wauerande [v.r. welterand] wawis.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. avi As leif of the lynd..That welteris doun with the wynd sa wauerand it is.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. P.viiiv Their waueryng boughes ar aduentured in the wynde.
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall xxiv. 193 These bubbles..ascended with a wavering or wrigling motion.
1660 J. Dryden Astræa Redux 12 The wavering Streamers, Flags, and Standart out.
1712 A. Pope tr. Statius First Bk. Thebais in Misc. Poems 21 As when two Winds with Rival Force contend, This way and that, the wav'ring Sails they bend.
1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan i. i. 42 Broken prismic lights are woven On the thin veils of wavering cloud.
4.
a. Vacillating, undecided, inconstant; faltering in resolution or allegiance.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective]
twiredec888
orrathc1175
twofoldc1175
twifoldc1200
waveringc1315
uncertain1382
suspensec1440
mammeringa1450
flowing?1504
floghtering1521
vacillant1521
in a mammering1532
double-minded1552
unstaid1561
unresolute1570
unresolved?1571
staggeringa1577
frittle1579
irresolute1579
cheverel1583
off and on1583
halting1585
unsettleda1593
unresolving1599
demurring1607
waving1611
suspensive1614
hoveringa1616
startling1619
irresolved1621
hesitating1622
indetermined1628
variousa1643
branling1645
hesitant1647
non-sincere1656
hesitatious1657
humdrum1660
shuttlecock1660
yea-and-nay1672
swaying1688
interpendent1708
undetermined1718
Squadronec1720
hesitatorya1734
volanta1734
shilly-shally1734
dilly-dally1749
niffy-naffy1765
wiggle-waggle1778
undecided1779
undecisive1780
indecisive1787
conflicted1789
hesitative1795
undeciding1802
vacillating1814
yea-nay1827
demurrant1836
willy-nilly1839
shilly-shallying1842
oscillative1852
Hamletish1854
vacillatory1854
dilly-dallying1879
thistledown1897
weak-principled1913
not-quite1920
off-again on-again1923
dithery1931
havering1975
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective]
unfastc888
unstathelfasteOE
unsteadfasta1200
fleeting?c1225
changeablea1275
ficklea1275
unstablec1290
waveringc1315
flickerc1325
loose in the haftc1325
motleyc1380
unsadc1384
variablea1387
variantc1386
ticklec1400
inconstant1402
flitting1413
brittle1420
plianta1425
mutablec1425
shittle1440
shittle-witted1448
moonishc1450
unconstant1483
unfirm1483
varying?a1500
pliablea1513
fluctuant1575
changeling1577
shittle-headed1580
cheverel1583
off and on1583
chameleon-like1589
changeful1590
limber1602
unsteady1604
ticklish1606
skittish1609
startling1619
labile1623
uncertaina1625
cheverelized1625
remuant1625
fluctuate1631
fluctuary1632
various1636
contrarious1643
epileptical1646
fluxilea1654
shittle-braineda1655
multivolent1656
totter-headed1662
on and off1668
self-inconsistent1678
weathercocka1680
whifflinga1680
versatile1682
veering1684
fast and loose1697
inconsistent1709
insteadfast1728
unfixing1810
unsteadied1814
chameleonic1821
labefact1874
ballastless1884
weathercocky1886
whiffle-minded1902
c1315 Shoreham Poems i. 424 And þi bi-leaue of ihesu crist His nou al weuerinde.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xii. 185 Mony ane hert sall vaverand [1489 Adv. wawerand] be That semyt ere of gret bounte.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xviv This realm..inuaded and infested with the frantike waueryng Welshemen.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Andria i. v, in Terence in Eng. 27 Hee is as wauering as a wether-cocke.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iv. i. 138 Remember where we are, In France, amongst a fickle wauering Nation. View more context for this quotation
1642 J. Taylor Whole Life Henry Walker sig. A3v To Allienate or estrange the hearts of wavering Subjects from their allegiance.
c1660 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) II. 227 His mind is so wavouring that I think hee will setill to nothing.
1743 Ld. Hardwicke in G. Harris Life (1847) II. 37 If our allies are timorous and wavering, it is necessary to encourage them by vigorous measures.
1862 C. Dilke Let. 7 Nov. in S. Gwynn & G. M. Tuckwell Life Sir C. W. Dilke (1917) I. 32 How wavering and shortsighted the policy of England in Turco-Grecian matters has been of late!
a1886 W. Stubbs Germany in Early Middle Ages (1908) 167 The wavering princes returned to their allegiance.
b. absol. (with the).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [noun] > irresolute or vacillating person > collectively
wavering1603
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 280 Carambey..encouraged the wauering, and restored the battaile.
1780 Mirror No. 94 That I might be able..to alarm the inconsiderate, to confirm the wavering.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. lv. 213 The most wavering could not but be confirmed by his calm wisdom.
c. In combinations.
ΚΠ
1526 Bible (Tyndale) James i. 8 A waverynge mynded man is vnstable in all his wayes.
1658 J. Spencer Καινα και Παλαια 179 How to prevent wavering-mindedness.
5. Of fortune, affairs, etc.: Variable, mutable. †Of a person: Having a doubtful or uncertain title.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > alternation > change of fortune > [adjective]
wavering?a1513
vicissitudinal1588
vicissitudal1598
vicissitudinarious1667
vicissitudinarianc1729
vicissitudinous1846
vicissitous1865
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > state of being unprovable > [adjective] > lacking authority
singlec1449
wavering?a1513
without (one's) booka1569
unauthoritative1644
inauthoritative1659
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 258 This waverand warldis wretchidnes.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxlviijv Suche is worldly vnstablenes, and so waueryng is false flatteryng fortune.
a1550 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Wemyss) lxv. l. 1838 Few personis lynealye, Sum vther few collateralye, As cours maid and qualite Airis waverand for to be.
1660 J. Milton Readie Way Free Commonw. (ed. 2) 58 In this wavering condition of our affairs.
6. Changing in intensity, now strong, now faint; flickering, fitful, intermittent; tremulous, unsteady; tending to fade or become dim.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adjective] > intermittent or irregular
chopping1483
wavering1488
interpolate1547
suspensive1575
off and on1583
remitting1583
intermissive1586
fluttering1590
aguisha1602
intermittent1603
irregular1608
broken1629
intermitting1643
serratile1707
serrine1707
scattering1709
serratic1753
now-and-then1762
remittent1791
fitful1810
non-periodic1836
spasmodic1837
startful1837
interlusory1853
heterochronic1854
heterochronous1854
between-whiles1859
snatchy1861
sporadic1861
spasmodical1864
catchy1869
pauseful1877
aperiodic1879
scratchy1881
nervy1884
spurty1894
off-again on-again1923
on-again off-again1946
on-off1949
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [adjective] > fluttering or flickering
flutteryc1386
ventilous1484
wavering1488
flaffinga1522
flittering1549
flackering1567
flickeringa1586
fluttering1590
whiffling1765
fluttered1773
aflicker1842
flickery1893
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > [adjective] > trembling or quivering
tremblinga1400
aspen?c1412
quavering?a1439
didderingc1440
wavering1488
quavery1519
quiveringa1547
warbling1549
tremble1568
quiverish1582
tremefacting1599
aguisha1602
tremulous1611
twittering1648
brandishing1658
micant1661
shivery1747
shivering1762
tremulating1813
dithing1818
dithering1821
quivery1833
tremulant1837
trembly1846
thrilling1850
trepidatory1881
shuddering1893
doddery1919
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > [adjective] > having dimness or poor vision
darkOE
dima1220
bissona1250
murka1300
mistedc1450
obfuscatec1487
spurblind1508
sand-blind1538
dim-sighted1561
blinking1568
dimmed1590
weak-sighteda1591
purblind1592
sand-eyed1592
thick-eyed1598
left-eyed1609
mole-eyed1610
blindish1611
mole-sighted1625
sanded1629
veiled1633
weak-eyed1645
scotomatical1656
mole-blinda1660
swimming1697
wavering1842
foggy1847
scotomatous1866
clouding1868
wall-eyed1873
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 340 Now wauerand wynd, now weit.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ii. xii. 64 Or mast liklie a waverand sweving or dreyme [L. volucrique simillima somno].
a1626 W. Rowley Birth of Merlin (1662) sig. E3 The incertain Changes of a wavering Skie.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xvi. 62/2 It is a kind of wavering fluteing sound.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering III. ix. 180 The fire..now rose high into the air, a wavering column of brilliant light.
1842 J. Wilson Christopher North (1857) I. 152 His sight is dim and wavering.
1866 M. E. Braddon Lady's Mile i Making a little spot of crimson amongst the wavering shadows of the trees.
1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise i. 393 Till these things shall seem The wavering memory of a lovely dream.
1890 Retrospect Med. 102 370 It is heard as a wavering or tremolo note.
Derivatives
ˈwaveringly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > [adverb] > tremblingly
waveringlyc1400
tremblingly1552
quirily1582
quaveringly1594
quiveringly1594
tremulously1736
twitteringly1810
a-shiver1840
a-tremble1856
a-thrill1879
a-quiver1883
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adverb]
in a waver1519
uncertainly1555
waveringlya1603
irresolutely1617
unresolvedly1621
off and ona1641
hesitantly1660
humdrum1660
irresolvedly1680
undecisively1771
hesitatingly1800
on or upon the waver1806
indecisively1828
vacillatinglya1849
oscillatively1852
hesitatively1881
shakenly1890
c1400 Sc. Trojan War ii. 1547 He has chapit, & so long past Throw þe wyld sees wawerandly [v.r. wauerandly].
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 1 Pet. v. f. xiiiiv Loke not waueringly about you, haue no distrust, be not afrayed.
a1603 T. Cartwright Confut. Rhemists New Test. (1618) 27 How doubtfully and waueringly Augustine iudged of this case.
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 7 176 The candles glimmer somewhat waveringly.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola II. i. 6 His hearers more or less waveringly believed, that he had a mission like that of the Hebrew prophets.
1885 R. Bridges Nero ii. ii Speak nothing waveringly.
ˈwaveringness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [noun]
yea-and-nayc1384
vacillationc1400
titteringa1413
stackeringc1440
wondingc1440
fluctuationc1450
waver1519
mammering1532
uncertainty1548
wavering1548
to and fro1553
suspense1560
staggering1565
suspension1568
mammery1578
demur1581
branle1591
dilly-dally1592
hesitance1601
irresolution1601
uncertainness1601
undecision1611
waveringness1614
hesitancy1617
unsettledness1619
hesitation1622
unresolvednessa1626
doubleness of minda1628
wavinga1628
swagging1636
poise1637
mambling1640
stickagea1647
vacillancy1668
whifflinga1677
hovering1679
unresolve1679
irresoluteness1686
shilly-shally1755
indecisiona1763
undecisiveness1779
indecisiveness1793
oscillation1798
flexility1815
shilly-shallying1842
swaying1850
Hamletism1852
teeter1855
havering1866
off and on1875
dilly-dallying1879
double-mindedness1881
hesitatingness1890
dither1958
1614 J. Robinson Of Relig. Communion 124 Men become perfit, and growen past that childish waveringnes.
a1732 F. Atterbury Serm. Several Occas. (1734) II. 311 The Uncertainty and Waveringness of this [belief].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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n.?a1400adj.c1315